Calls for B.C. Police Act changes after probe of Myles Gray’s death sides with officers

Could the tragic decease of Myles Gray pb to changes successful B.C.’s Police Act?

That question is being raised aft a Police Act probe into the confrontation with Gray that led to his decease determined nary of the 7 officers’ actions progressive misconduct.

The probe concluded allegations of maltreatment of authorization and neglect of work were “not substantiated.”

Myles Gray died successful 2015 pursuing a confrontation and beating involving 7 Vancouver Police officers. A coroner’s inquest classified the 33-year-old’s decease arsenic a homicide.

But successful an 85-page report, Discipline Authority Delta Police Chief Neil Dubord noted helium was constricted successful his abilities.

“Police Act subject proceedings are wholly dissimilar trials oregon galore administrative tribunal hearings,” Dubord stated.

“The grounds is astir wholly a written record, and determination is nary cross-examination. While the responsive officers whitethorn situation findings … the converse is not true: determination is cipher determination to situation the officers’ grounds oregon submissions. It is simply a strangely lopsided process.”

On Wednesday, Ian Donaldson, lawyer for the Gray family, told Global News Dubord’s study raises superior concerns.

“If the occupation is the Police Act, past the Police Act ought to beryllium revisited with being mindful of the request for accountability without requiring radical to incriminate themselves,” helium said.

With British Columbia conscionable 9 days retired from a provincial election, the question became an contented connected the run way connected Thursday.

“This is what the autarkic Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner should beryllium doing and looking at,” BC Conservative Leader John Rustad said.

Trending Now

“They should person the quality to beryllium capable to delve into this, to cod the accusation and to inquire those questions.”

NDP campaigner Mike Farnworth, who served arsenic solicitor wide successful the past sitting of the legislature, said helium won’t person entree to Dubord’s study until aft the election, but said helium believes it volition assistance pass changes to the Police Act that are already underway.

“The adjacent signifier of the constabulary betterment deals with accountability and these kinds of disciplinary situations and ensuring that they are just for each parties involved,” helium said.

The process has been achy for the Gray family.

“I’m beauteous upset but I’m not amazed by it,” Myles Gray’s sister Melissa Gray said.

“It has been 9 years of this wherever we’ve gotten nowhere. So it’s conscionable different hit.”

The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner said Thursday that it was reviewing the file, and could marque recommendations.

There could besides beryllium a reappraisal by a retired judge, involving a nationalist proceeding oregon reappraisal connected the record.